Monthly Archives

July 2016

One word I have really embraced so far this year as being completely meaningful for almost everyone is the word sustainable. It is not for me or anyone else to come up with a one-size-fits-all definition of emotional health, either for individuals or families. In fact, it is possible for someone to be quite satisfied with their way of life, even if I don’t feel comfortable with all their choices, as long as that way is sustainable for a significant period of ...

There is a real difference between listening to someone, and actually hearing them. We all can sense this instinctively, and your kids and teens are no exception! When we listen, the words are being processed by our brain into understandable terms, and we can make sense of the language and words being used. However, hearing someone involves much more than this – it means to honour and choose to gain a better understanding of what that person is trying to tell us, and truly ...

Hardly a week goes by that I don’t deal with a situation involving a child or teen (or tween!) in a family reacting with extreme anger at home. This can come out in countless different ways, and in both physical and verbal forms. Many parents throw their arms in the air in frustration, or worse, “fire back” with similar intensity, and only worsening an already challenging situation. How can this vicious cycle be stopped? Though every scenario is different, one of ...